Plans to build 54 new homes on a parcel of land located west of Alderley Road have been approved.
Outline planning permission for up to 60 dwellings to be built on the 4.45 hectare former green belt site were approved by Cheshire East Council in October 2018. (reference 17/5837M)
The Northern Planning Committee approved a reserved matters application at their meeting on Wednesday, 14th September granting permission for the layout, scale, appearance and landscaping of the scheme.
Both Wilmslow Town Councillor Jon Newell and Resident of Wilmslow's Roger Bagguley attended the planning meeting and spoke in opposition to the scheme during the public speaking section.
Councillor David Jefferey, who sits on the planning committee told wilmslow.co.uk "There are a lot of things about the development that I personally don't like (I would like few houses so the density is more like Fulshaw Park, I would like the houses further from the existing houses, I would like them to have less visual impact from Alderley Road, I would like the designs to be less generic – although when I asked it was confirmed that the houses re bespoke and you won't find them anywhere else – and I would like the layout less 'linear').
"However, developers know what they are doing and know how to satisfy the planning permission policies therefore I was unable to find any planning reason to refuse the application so I voted to approve it.
"This is the frustrating thing about sitting on a planning committee, applications cannot be refused just because 'I don't like it'. Material planning grounds are needed otherwise a refusal will result in it going to appeal, the council losing the appeal and having to pay the (significant) legal fees.
"Concerns I raised but were either adequately addressed by officers or I did not feel were sufficient to defend a refusal were inability to demonstrate a biodiversity net gain, parking for the children's play area, and flooding (particularly at the south end where the play area is to be).
He added "Cllr Iain Macfarlane (RoW Independent Cllr for Wilmslow West) spoke at length on the flooding issue and, whereas I content for a condition to be placed requiring the drainage design had to be assessed by the CEC flood experts prior to commencement of construction, on balance, Iain felt the lack of detail on this aspect was sufficient in itself to warrant refusal.
"Other members were dissatisfied that the application had been brought forward with missing information such as the drainage design.
"The final result was 5 for approval, 2 against and 4 abstentions therefore the application was approved (or rather delegated back to officers for approval once the outstanding matters are agreed)."
Story Homes will build a residential development of 54 dwellings, comprising of 38 market homes and 17 affordable dwellings. These will be a mix of units, ranging from 1 bed apartments to 5 bed houses.
The plans can be viewed on Cheshire East Council website by searching for planning reference 21/4669M.
Comments
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Pot holes, flooding, car parking solved? No chance I fear, unless somebody knows better.
Affordable housing in this area is a joke, the formula is corrupted and more or less ignored anyway, just look around you. Almost every day we read and hear the outcome of overbuilding and slack 'planning' throughout the area - congestion, obstruction, lawlessness of all kinds, fail(ed)ing public services, local planning objectives overruled and a county council with little or no civic conscience.